Cultural Factors in the Formation of Shaolin Kung Fu
The Abbot of Shaolin Temple, Monk Shi Yongxin, believes that the profound cultural connotations expressed in Shaolin Kung Fu are given by the wisdom of Zen Buddhism, which is a very general and forward-looking viewpoint. Practitioners of Shaolin Kung Fu first show their faith in Buddhism, including faith in wisdom and faith in power. The core of Shaolin Kungfu’s wisdom belief is Bodhidharma, the first ancestor of Zen Buddhism, and the core of power belief is King Tathagata. The desire for supernormal divine power and the pursuit of supernormal wisdom have always been the goal of practitioners. This is what distinguishes Shaolin Kungfu from other martial arts.
Inheritance of Shaolin Kung Fu
The transmission of Shaolin Kung Fu is strictly based on the master-disciple system. This master-disciple relationship is the most basic manifestation of the traditional patriarchal headship system of Shaolin Temple. The patriarchal system, which is centered on the family and based on the law of distinguishing affinity according to the proximity of the bloodline, is the grass-roots structure of the ancient Chinese society, and has a strong cohesive force. Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the ways for Shaolin monks to practice Zen. The qualification of Shaolin Kung Fu inheritors is also recognized according to the Zen lineage, i.e., the way the master recognizes the disciple.
The Faith of Shaolin Monks
Buddhists attach great importance to the role of belief in divine power as a safeguard for the process of cultivation. The belief in the power of God is an important manifestation of Shaolin Kungfu belief. It was formed in the Tang Dynasty when the Myoho-renge-kyo was in full bloom, and has continued to this day, and has gone through three stages: the belief in the power of Goddess of Mercy, the belief in the power of Narayan’s Vajra and the belief in the power of King Konrad’s. The core of Shaolin Kung Fu belief is the belief in the power of King Konrad. The core of Shaolin Kungfu belief is King Konrad, and the Shaolin Temple is dedicated to the King Konrad Hall.
Life of Shaolin Buddhist Monks
The lives of Buddhist monks are always governed by Buddhist precepts. “The precepts embody the Buddhist principle of “compassion for all beings” and are also the rules of life for the followers. The most basic precepts of Buddhism are the five precepts: abstaining from killing, stealing, lust, alcohol and delusion. In the specific environment of Shaolin Temple, the Buddhist precepts have evolved into martial arts precepts. The precepts are manifested in the martial arts practitioner as martial virtues. Therefore, Shaolin Kung Fu is characterized by moderation, modesty, introversion and subtlety, as well as the style and characteristics of internal strength, shortness, conciseness and backwardness.
Conclusion of Shaolin Culture
To summarize, the formation of Shaolin Kung Fu is inextricably linked to the cultural connotations of modesty, generosity, and forbearance in traditional Chinese culture, as well as the Buddhist concepts of compassion, harmony, and tolerance. These are all cultural factors in the formation of Shaolin Kung Fu. Shaolin Kung Fu Goes Abroad and Becomes a Cultural Symbol.
